Creatives Talk Podcast

By Tina Mokuau and Dana Nöllsch with Reno Arts News.

This is a look into the creative’s journey, with interviews of artists, actors, and other creatives in Reno, NV, with your hosts Tina Mokuau and Dana Nöllsch.

This week, the Creatives Talk Podcast visits with Kris Vagner, Managing Editor of Reno News and Review and Founder/Editor of the online arts magazine Double Scoop. This is the last podcast of this season, and we are so thankful for another great season of conversations with the creatives of our community. We will be back in January with fresh conversations. November 6, 2024 Your Hosts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tina Mokuau⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dana Nollsch⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Editor/Sound Engineer: Dana Nollsch Music by Mr Smith and Antony Raijekov With special thanks to: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Nevada Fine Arts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for their continued support of the podcast. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Reno Arts News⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for their undying support of the Reno Art Scene. Season Two Episode seventeen: Kris Vagner
  1. Kris Vagner
  2. Pat Hickey
  3. Ashley Gottlieb
  4. Dave Santina
  5. Pan Pantoja

Join Tina and Dana for a conversation with John Paul Rivard about local theatre.

John Paul Rivard is a grown-up theatre nerd. John Paul is a powerhouse in the local theatre scene, director, actor, choreographer, and more.

Here are John Paul’s social media links.

Facebook: ⁠facebook.com/john.rivard⁠

Instagram: ⁠instagram.com/johndipaul/⁠

Season Two Episode Two: John Paul Rivard

July 17, 2024

Your Hosts: ⁠⁠Tina Mokuau⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Dana Nollsch⁠

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/creatives-talk-podcast/episodes/John-Paul-Rivard-e2m41cd/a-abegfli

Tina and Dana start their second season of Creatives Talk Podcast with Singer-Songwriter Grace Hayes.

Grace discusses her music, creative process, family, and how social media has helped her become a successful artist. Listen to this week’s Creatives Talk Podcast to enjoy her heartfelt and dynamic style.

Season Two Episode One: Grace Hayes

July 10, 2024

Your Hosts: Tina Mokuau and Dana Nollsch

Editor/Sound Engineer: Dana Nollsch

Music by Mr Smith and Antony Raijekov


This week, we celebrate the final episode of our first season with silversmith and master jewelry maker Mandi Wirtanen. Mandi talks about how she discovered her love of jewelry making at a young age and her determination to hone her skills.

Take a listen and enjoy the conversation with Mandi.

⁠mandalynnjewelrydesigns.com⁠

The Creatives Talks Podcast will take a short break and return in early July 2024 with more artists, actors, writers, and others in the Reno Arts Community.  

The music is Chi Town Funk by Mr Smith.


This week, we sat down with Rosine Bena, the Founder and Artistic Director of Sierra Nevada Ballet.

We talked about her career in ballet and the new facilities for the Sierra Nevada Ballet.

Take a listen and enjoy the conversation with Rosine.

⁠sierranevadaballet.org


This week, we had a wonderful conversation with Joseph Galata about how the arts are necessary for the health of the individual and the health of our society.

Joseph Galata is an award-winning professional and Executive Director of the Sierra Association of Foster Families. He advocates for children and youth by creating and facilitating various support programs. He is also an author, actor, dancer, and world traveler.

Here are the links mentioned in the podcast.

Here is the Link to the podcast for teens funded by Heritage Bank and Kids-Centric, LLC: ⁠https://youtu.be/nJ3YyJa39y4⁠

More of our kids podcasts:

⁠www.kidscentricarts.com⁠

⁠nevadascolorfulchildren.com⁠

⁠educatingfosteryouth.org⁠


This week, we talked to Mandy Medlin, the new owner of Nevada Fine Arts. Mandy expressed her excitement about the opportunity to take the store forward into the future for the Reno Arts Community.

Take a listen to the podcast to find out more.

⁠https://nvfinearts.com/⁠

⁠https://www.facebook.com/NevadaFineArts⁠⁠ ⁠

⁠https://www.instagram.com/nvfinearts/⁠


We had the extreme pleasure of talking to Candace Garlock in her studio. Candace is more than an artist and educator, she is an inspiration.

After you listen to the podcast, check out Candace’s website: ⁠https://candacenicolgarlock.com/⁠


This week, we are joined by Debbie McCarthy, also known as About Town Deb. Take a listen as we discuss community, family, and the future.

About Town Deb’s Website


This week, we talked to Megan Berner, the Arts & Culture Manager for the City of Reno. 

The conversation ranged from current and future Arts Projects for Reno and Berner’s personal art practice.

This is the link that Berner talks about in the podcast: https://www.reno.gov/community/arts-culture


We had the extreme pleasure of sitting down with ⁠Sam Sprague⁠, who owns ⁠Micano Home.⁠

Sam was one of the founders of the Midtown District and has quite the story of how he became a successful store owner and artist in Midtown.


We had a wonderful conversation with Eileen Fuller about local arts clubs and organizations. Eileen’s art is always inspirational, and I am sure you will find inspiration in our conversation.


For more than half a century, Marilyn Newton was a photojournalist for the Reno Gazette Journal. Covering the news, she made friends along the way, and Newton’s stories reflect a life lived with a passion that few can even imagine. We sat down with Marilyn Newton as she reflected on her life and shared her enthusiasm for the photos of Nevada she now creates and displays at the Artists Co-op.


We sat down with Nettie Oliverio to talk about her involvement with the Reno Arts Community and some of the current art projects she is involved in. This was a fascinating conversation that you will want to listen to.


Your hosts Tina and Dana talked to Jesse James Ziegler about his poetry and the spoken word community.

Listen to our first Podcast and check out what is happening in the spoken word community here in Reno. Jesse James Ziegler serves as Poet Laureate for the City of Reno (5th-Jan/24-Dec/25). He is the creator and manager of Monday Night Poetry and Spoken Views Collective vice president.

To find out more go to: ⁠linktr.ee/SidewaysEight⁠